What is the Hunger Day fundraising campaign?
The Hunger Day collection is a national Finnish Red Cross fundraising campaign organised with the help of volunteers in September, each year since 1980. You can participate as a donor or a volunteer. Donations are collected for the Finnish Red Cross Disaster Relief fund.
During the campaign, the Finnish Red Cross collects as many donations as possible so that it could take care of people encountering crises around the world and in Finland.
The need for help can be caused by a sudden natural disaster, an accident, a conflict or an epidemic. Whatever the disaster, the basic needs of people in distress are the same: the first needs are water, food and shelter. Often health care and emotional support are also needed.
Help is always close by in Finland as well. In recent years, the Disaster Relief Fund has been used in sudden accidents or emergency situations in Finland on average more than three times a week. This work is carried out in support of the authorities.
We offer psychosocial support to people facing unexpected crises, provide material assistance — for example to those who have lost their belongings in a fire — search for missing persons, and maintain readiness to respond to emergencies.
The Hunger Day collection in September
– The Hunger Day volunteers with donation boxes brings together people of all ages, from children to the elderly. We deeply appreciate every act in support of humanity, says Sirpa Solehmainen, Director of Fundraising at the Finnish Red Cross.
The Hunger Day collection starts in September and the box collectors will hit the streets everywhere in Finland on 24–26 September 2026. By taking part as a donor or a volunteer, you can join us in helping others.
Thank you for your help!
Basics about the Hunger Day collection
Hunger Day is a Finnish Red Cross collection organised in September each year. Hunger Day was born when the volunteer Mailis Korhonen from Pälkäne had an idea for the “fundraising campaign for everyone in Pälkäne.”
In November 1980, Pälkäne was abuzz with activity. The Pälkäne branch of the Finnish Red Cross had challenged the entire town to save on their food costs for a day and donate the saved funds for those suffering from hunger in Africa. There were many ways to donate, including a box collection, soup kitchen and church concert.
The collection was started under exceptional circumstances, as a newspaper strike made it difficult to inform people of the collection. However, over a thousand homes heard of the collection via schoolchildren, and the campaign exceeded all expectations.
Just a year later, the campaign expanded throughout the country and received the name Hunger Day. Currently, it is organised in almost every town in Finland.
Hunger Day has collected close to EUR 100 million. Numerous people have received help around the world and in Finland.
The first Hunger Day collection was organised to help the victims of famine in East Africa, hence the name Hunger Day. Back then, people were encouraged to eat lightly on Hunger Day and donate the saved funds to the collection.
Today, you can spend Hunger Day as you wish – not even feasting is forbidden. The idea of Hunger Day is that everyone should have enough food and those in need should receive aid.
Hunger Day is about collecting money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The donations are not committed in advance to any specific target. Therefore, the funds can be spent quickly where the need for aid is the greatest.
Help is repeatedly needed e.g. in natural disasters: typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rainstorms, floods, drought and landslides are common and cause human suffering.
After a natural disaster, the Red Cross distributes water canisters, hot food, tarpaulins and hygiene packages to families and provides first aid and psychosocial support as needed. The Red Cross anticipates and prepares for catastrophes and assists communities in rebuilding.
In Finland, Hunger Day donations support the training of volunteers and maintain preparedness for responding effectively to various crises. Sudden accidents and disturbances include disasters such as fires, floods and major accidents. Volunteers often play an important role in engaging with people in a comprehensive manner in their time of need.
The easiest way is to donate online
Payment methods: Finnish online banks, Visa and Master credit cards, MobilePay, Siirto, GooglePay and PayPal.
MobilePay donation
Use MobilePay to transfer the desired sum to the number 10900
SMS donation
- Donate €40 – Text the word SPR40 to the number 16499
- Donate €20 – Text the word SPR20 to the number 16499
- Donate €15 – Text the word SPR to the number 16499
- Donate €10 – Text the word SPR10 to the number 16499
- Donate €5 – Text the word SPR5 to the number 16499
Call the donation phone number
The donation is charged to your Finnish telephone bill, and the operator transfers the donation to the Red Cross.
Donate €20 to the Disaster Relief Fund – Call +358 (0)600 12220 (€20.52 + local network charge).
Account information for a Hunger Day donation
Bank account: OP FI52 5000 0120 4156 73. Recipient: Finnish Red Cross. Reference number: 5173.
Hunger Day company donation
Make a company donation online. You can order an invoice or make a payment. Please note that by donating €200 or more, your company receives a link to communications materials.
Even a small donation can make a huge difference
€5: A blanket that brings warmth and protection to the person who has faced a disaster
€9: A food package for one week for an entire family in the disaster area
€10: Antibiotic courses for 10 children to a disaster area
€15: Clean water for a child for a year in the disaster area
€50: Emotional support in a crisis - volunteer training in Finland
€180: Clothes for a person who has lost their home in a fire in Finland
Yes. For example, people who have lost their homes in fires need help with necessary purchases, starting with a toothbrush. The Red Cross also provides psychosocial support for accident victims and their families.
The coronavirus crisis has emphasised the importance of being prepared. The Hunger Day donations allow us to maintain our preparedness for operating under exceptional circumstances.
The Disaster Relief Fund is also used to support the preparedness of the Voluntary Rescue Service. These volunteers support the authorities e.g. in finding missing persons and during major accidents.
The Hunger Day box collection takes place 24–26 September 2026. You will need to bring a photo ID and weather-appropriate clothing.
Local Red Cross volunteers organize box collection in almost all over the Finland. Please find more detailed information in the event calendar.
How to set up your online fundraiser
- Set up your own online collection
- Choose your donation target:
- Decide whether you want to set up
- individual fundraiser or
- Team fundraiser under which people can join to collect a shared sum.
- Give a name and target sum for your fundraiser. Explain why you set up the fundraiser and ask people to donate. When you are ready, publish your fundraiser.
- Share the collection link in social media, via WhatsApp or by email. Posting the fundraiser once may not reach everyone, and you should share it repeatedly.
- You can monitor the donations on your fundraising page.
The collection expenses of the Disaster Relief Fund must not exceed 20 per cent. This means that at least 80% of the donations are used for aid work.
The amount of collection expenses is monitored by the board and council of the Finnish Red Cross. Collection expenses are expenses caused from acquiring the donations, such as fundraising personnel expenses, the printing and mailing costs of donation request letters, acquisition costs of the collection equipment, marketing costs, and fees collected by external service providers, including operators and banks.
The rules of the Disaster Relief Fund and its monitoring regulate the use of the donated funds.
Hunger Day tips for companies and schools
Companies or organisations taking part in Hunger Day are part of a unique chain of aid. Invite staff, stakeholders and customers along to help.
The Hunger Day fundraising offers pupils an excellent opportunity to influence matters through their own actions both in Finland and abroad. Involve the pupils and invite the staff, parents and relatives along to help.
On this page, you will find different ways to organise your fundraising activity, as well as links to ready-made materials, such as a school assembly. A warm welcome to join us!
